Can You Smoke Marijuana Leaves & Get High?

Last Updated on November 9, 2022

There are various parts of the cannabis plant you can consume and you’ll be happy to find out that leaves are one of them.

When referring to consumable marijuana leaves we are talking about “sugar leaves” rather than “fan leaves”. This is important to note because only sugar leaves carry a certain amount of compounds that can get you high, known as trichomes. They are a crystal-like substance which you are most probably familiar with as they are found on most of the cannabis flowers (buds). 

Can You Smoke Marijuana Leaves?

Yes, you can smoke marijuana leaves. As a matter of fact there are all kinds of different ways to consume marijuana leaves with most common being smoking, vaping, eating and brewing. However, getting high on weed leaves is a different story as leaves contain only a fraction of THC & CBD compared to flowers.

Can Smoking Marijuana Leaves Get You High?

In theory smoking marijuana leaves can get you high but it would require a crazy amount of leaves. This is because leaves contain anywhere from 0 to 4% THC which is way less compared to flowers which can contain up to 25% THC. If you decide on smoking weed leaves you should look for ones with the most trichomes (crystals) as they are the ones carrying therapeutic compounds.

Different Types of Marijuana Leaves

If you’re considering consuming cannabis leaves it’s important to know that there are two different types of leaves.

Fan Leaves

Fan leaves are large, primary leaves of the cannabis plant. Plant growers use them as a health indicator of the plant as they are first to express signs of environmental distress. Fan leaves carry little to none trichomes which means less cannabinoids and terpenes. Therefore, fan leaves have no psychedelic effect if consumed. 

Also, they are commonly used as marijuana symbol and you’ll find them printed on clothes, hats, bags, etc. Yep, those are fan leaves.

Sugar Leaves

The main purpose of sugar leaves is to synthesize the light energy and boost the growth of the flower (buds). As such, they grow during the flowering stage and help flowers reach their fullest potential. You’ll recognize them by being covered in trichomes (crystals) and being located closest to the flower. They are also much smaller in size compared to fan leaves.

When talking about smoking marijuana leaves, sugar leaves are the ones you want to smoke. That’s because they carry much more trichomes compared to fan leaves. Still, you’ll get the best effect when smoking cannabis flowers.

Best Ways to Consume Marijuana Leaves

While you can smoke cannabis leaves it might not be the best way to consume them. This is because it would require a large amount of leaves to get a potent high and it’s just not worth it. On top of that, smoke from the leaves is much harsher compared to buds and you might end up hurting your throat. Enhancing meals and beverages or extracting the kief might be a better option.

Vaping

If you’re determined to consume your marijuana leaves by inhaling, vaping is a better alternative to smoking. Vaporizing weed leaves gives you smooth, potent vapor that avoids harmful smoke but still brings out the psychoactive compounds.

In order to vape marijuana leaves you’ll need either a desktop or portable vaporizer. Once you have your vaporizer you want to make sure that your weed leaves are dry. If the leaves are sticky they won’t vape properly. Next, you want to finely grind the leaves. It’s best to use a grinder for this. Once done, you can proceed to pack your vaporizer. Just make sure it’s off otherwise you could burn your fingers.

Once everything is in place all there’s left is to select your desired vaping temperature and enjoy!

Enhance Meals & Beverages

Infusing cannabis leaves to meals and beverages will require you to decarboxylate the leaves. This process converts the THC and CBD in the leaves into active molecular forms to enhance the psychoactive effects. 

The word “decarboxylation” might sound complicated but the process itself is the complete opposite. You should start by preheating your oven/toaster oven to 230°F (110°C). In the meantime, spread your weed leaves on a baking tray covered with parchment paper. Make sure to spread the leaves thoroughly and leave enough space between them. Once ready, place the baking tray inside the oven and heat for 45 minutes. This will activate the THC inside the leaves. You can remove the baking tray after 45 minutes and the decarboxylation process is over. Simple as that. 

Afterwards you should bind the leaves with fats. The easiest way to do this is to simmer them with either butter or oil. Once done, you can use them for all kinds of tasty foods and beverages.

Make Hash Using Pollinator

When you possess a large amount of leaves the best way to go about is to use a pollinator. Pollinator is a rotating device that separates resin glands from the leaves. It uses a rotating drum which harvests trichomes at ~10% ratio, meaning you’d get around 50g of crystals from 500g of weed leaves. The result is a powder-like substance inside the drum which contains all psychoactive compounds of the plant.  Now you can turn it into a hash, add to a joint or bong, or use it in cooking. The options are endless. 

Get The Most Out of Your Leaves!

With so much to do with marijuana leaves it’s a real waste throwing them away. From smoking to making edibles and everything in between, cannabis leaves are definitely worth your while. 

What’s your favorite way to consume marijuana leaves? Let us know down in the comments!